What do contractions actually feel like??
Hi,
Anyone who has had a baby, please can you tell me what a contraction actually feels like??!
I am obviously expecting them to be painful - but can't imagine what sort of pain it is?
Is it like a sharp pain - like bad backache? Like leg cramp? Like stubbing your toe?! Like twisting an ankle? Like burning yourself? I have heard some people say they are like period paind, I always had painful periods but found that pain was more of a constant nagging dull ache....?
Help please!! Any experiences of thoughts, however you can describe them, it would be so great to hear your experiences...
Thanks a lot xx
Anyone who has had a baby, please can you tell me what a contraction actually feels like??!
I am obviously expecting them to be painful - but can't imagine what sort of pain it is?
Is it like a sharp pain - like bad backache? Like leg cramp? Like stubbing your toe?! Like twisting an ankle? Like burning yourself? I have heard some people say they are like period paind, I always had painful periods but found that pain was more of a constant nagging dull ache....?
Help please!! Any experiences of thoughts, however you can describe them, it would be so great to hear your experiences...
Thanks a lot xx
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Replies
The only way i can describe a contraction is when you have really bad period pain accompanied with backache but obviously on a much larger scale. All i can say is don't worry about them as at the time you will just go with whatever your body wants to do and remember your breathing and panting exercises as they really do help. Have you been to parentcraft classes as they are really informative and help you a lot with what to expect.
Good luck! x x x
one thing you've got to remember is that contractions dont always stay in your bump, some people just get backache some people get pain in their thighs (I did) some get it in their bump some get pain between their legs and some get a combination of any of the above, but even if you just feel uncomfortable phone your midwife or the hospital and speak to some-one for advice coz thats what their there for!!
)
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My contractions started at 6am in the morning, and they did feel exactly like period pains, or like when you are due to come on, but the pains come and go. One minute you have them, the next minute they are gone. They just get progressively worse and more frequent. Mine weren't overly painfull until I was about 7cm dilated and I had no back pain.
I managed to stay in bed till 9am waking every 30 minutes when I had a contraction and by 3pm they were coming every 3 minutes... thats when I went to the hosp!! Enjoy labour and try to remember as much as you can. It is such an amazing experience, exhausting, but amazing. x
and have had bad back ache too, had a show on sat. morning all stringy no blood, just like glue, been coming out evry morning little by little (nice subject i know).
i havent really had any contractions, i know my mum said your belly goes really hard and your tummy feels tight !
but i havent had that.
i'm just wondering do you have to have contractions in your tummy, or can u feel a pushing pressure and back ache, has anyone else had this
as this is my first baby so dont know what to expect
w.b x carlie
It's hard when it's your first and you have no real idea on what to expect!
xx
i get the odd contraction on my tummy with a dull achin pain
but feel really drained today!!
feel as though somethings gonna happen 2nite
so we will see
I had bad backache for about a week on and off and kept thinking this is it!
But in the end i had to get induced - they told me as it was my first that it propbably wouldn't work first time, so when i got back ache a couple of hours later i didn't realise it was early contractions!
Then after a couple of hours i had cramp in my leg so bad i didn't want to walk or lie it was horrible(sorry)
By the time i had proper contractions it was more like shazmyatt says above - i used a birthing pool for the pain and my leg cramp vanished if you can use one def do, when i got back out i could really feel the difference!
If i'm making it sound bad don't listen to me cause i had a really good birth and can't wait for the chance to do it again!
Good Luck
Oh and i didn't realise that afterwards i might shake uncontrollably so i couldn't hold my lo - just the adrenaline!